Book cover and protector.



No. 846,195. PATENTED MAR. 5,-1907.

G. A. FLOHR & A. MILLER, JR.

BOOK COVER OR PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION-FILED MAY 5.1906.

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. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. FLOHR, or BELLEvUE, KENrIIoK Y, AND ADAM MILLER, JE., or CINCINNATI, oIIIo.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed May 5, 1906. Serial No. 315,341.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, G ORGE A. FLoI-IR and ADAM MILLER, Jr, citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of Bellevue, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, and Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Book Covers or Protectors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of our specification.

Our invention relates to book-covers, more especially adapted for use in connection with what are known as loose-leaf books, in which the backs are made of metal, and which are adapted to be expanded or contracted to suit the needs or desires of the user. The covers of these loose-leaf books cannot be thrown back very far anything like the way the covers of the ordinary blank or account book can be turned back.

The account-books or blank-books used in most counting-houses to-day have the covers generally bound in corduroy or other expensive binding, and it is desirable, therefore, to provide a protector or outside cover made of a material possessing suflicient strength and which can be readily slipped over the books or backs of the books so that in the constant use the binding on the books or their backs will not become worn or marred, as would otherwise be the case if some protectlon was not had against the frictional contact with the desk or table. Furthermore, with the use of the loose-leaf system in addition to the desire to protect the binding of the books it is also essential that the binding or covering should not become worn out or torn, because the metal of which the looseleaf books are constructed will then become exposed and very likely injure the desks or tables on which the same are used.

We are aware that covers or protectors made of canvas or other suitable material are well known for use in connection with the ordinary blank or account book; but it is apparent that in view of the peculiar construction of the loose-leaf books now on the market this type of cover or protector cannot be employed in connection with the loose-leaf system. It will be seen, therefore, that it becomes necessary to provide a cover or protector which can be readily applied to books of the loose-leaf system and which in addition will adapt itself either to the contracted or Like letters of reference indicate identical parts in the respective figures.

The cover comprises a pocket portion A, which is intended to he slipped over one side of the book-back, while B comprises the portion intended to cover the other side of the book-back, and C is the portion which passes around the back portion of the book. As

will be seen, the entire cover or protector may be cut and formed out of one piece of material, such as canvas and the like.

The side B is so cut as to provide the flaps a, b, and c, which are adapted to fold over and onto the inside of the back or cover D of the book, as seen in Fig. 2.

Secured to one of the flaps, and preferably the flap c, in any convenient way are the straps E E, which are preferably made of elastic material. The ends of these elastic straps are provided. with the metallic members or portions d, which may be secured in any suitable manner. Secured in any suitable manner to the book back or cover D are the catches e 6, into which the members (1 take. The catches c (illustrated in the drawing) consist of a piece of metal two sides or edges of which are bent or curled'backward, as sh own at e, and in such malmer as to have the space between the sides at one end of the catch smaller than the space between the sides or edges at the other end of the catch and in that respect correspond with the tapering sides of the metallic members (1. It will be seen, therefore, that by stretching the elastic straps E sufliciently so as to permit the narrow portion of the members d to be inserted at the broad end of the catch 6 that the flaring sides of the members d will not permit the members d to slide out at the other or narrow end of the catch e, thus securely holding the straps in place.

It will be seen from the construction just described that if the casing of the book-back is expanded the elastic-straps E will permit the iiap c of the portion B of the cover or protector to slide outward or toward the edge of the back or cover 1), and thus permit the cover or protector to adapt itself to the width of the expanded book. On the other hand, if the casing is contracted the elastic straps E, which are constantly exerting tension on the flap c of the book-cover, Wlll draw the flap c Iarther over on the inside of the back or cover 1), and thus take up any slack that might result in the cover or protector.

The drawing simply illustrates the catches a as being secured by a screw or pin onto the book-cover; but it will be readily understood that they might be secured in another manner, and it is also apparent that a diiferent style of catch might be employed, although the one that we have illustrated we belleve to be the simplest construction.

The construction we have described we believe to be the preferable one; but slight modifications might be made without departing from the spirlt of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we wish to claim, and secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A book-protector comprising a pocket to receive one of the covers of a book, a por tion provided with flaps adapted to fold over upon the other cover of the book, said portion and pocket being integral, and means secured to one of the flaps and adapted to be attached to one of the covers of a book, whereby the protector is yieldingly held thereon.

2. A book-cover protector comprising a pocket to receive one of the covers of a book, a portion integral with the pocket and provided with one or more flaps adapted to fold over upon the other cover of the book, at-

taching mechanism comprising a pair of members, one of which is secured to one of said flaps, and the other member adapted to be attached to the book-cover, whereby the protector and its flap are yieldingly held in place.

3. A book-protector comprising a pocket to receive one of the covers of a book, a portion integral with said pocket portion and provided with flaps adapted to fold over upon the other cover of the book, elastic straps secured to one of the flaps, mechanism adapted to be secured to said cover of the book whereby the free ends of said straps may be held in place but permit of the extension of the protector.

GEORGE A. FLOHR. ADAM MILLER, JR. Witnesses:

GEORGE HUDMAN, HENRY BUDDENBERG. 

